Strobing Graphics

[Bouncing Account needs new email address]

You should not attempt a serious edit by only looking at the computer monitor for judging quality.

FCP is designed to be operated with an external video monitor connected
(through a camcorder is just fine) DURING the edit process.
The external video monitor should have shown you any flickers or “image buzzing” before output.

Try this:
Apply the Video Filters > Blur > Gaussian Blur.

Adjust the setting to 0.25 and keep adding “more” (up to 0.75 or even 2.0) as you observe the results.

As images (moving or stills) are more “complex” they can “buzz”on the video screen.
Adding the Gaussian Blur Filter can create an image that looks smoother.

You need to RENDER the effect to view full quality on the external monitor.

In FCP 5 set your video processing to “Best Quality” (It defaults to “Normal”).

[Jason Mccaffrey]

I am using an external monitor. I just reviewed that section again from the timeline and there is no strobing going on, it’s only in the dvd. What gives?

[Jason Mccaffrey]

Good question, but it is in fact a tv monitor. I am privy to the difference between interlaced and progressive scan. In fact, the dvd player that I am viewing the dvd on is hooked up to the same tv that my deck and computer are hooked up to. I’m viewing the timeline output and dvd output through the same tv. In the timeline – no strobe. On the dvd – strobe.

Jason

[David Roth weiss]

Jason,

See the thread above. It could apply to you if you used compressor.

DRW

[Todd Reid]

What is your resolution on the photoshop files?

I’ve solved this problem a few times by knocking 300dpi gfx down to 72 dpi.
Anything over 72 dpi is useless in video anyway.

[Todd Reid]

Good catch.

I meant to ask what his image size was, not resolution.

I stand by my suggestion to lower the dpi for a possible solution to the strobing gfx.
It worked for me.

[Kevin Monahan]

To drop a 300 DPI file into FCP is going to cause you problems. You’re more subject to issues with flickering and moire. It also taxes your processors more than they need to.

If images are scanned at high res, say 300 DPI, don’t just leave them that way. Bring them into Photoshop first. They should be optimized in Photoshop with the frame size you need (usually 2x the native frame size of your sequence). The bit depth should be set at 72 DPI before saving them, and then should be placed them into the timeline.

This info comes from my training at Avid Boot Camp oh those many years ago.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Seminar!
fcpworld.com

[Tom Brooks]

If you’re going to optimize the picture in Photoshop, why not make it exactly the frame size of your output video or sequence rather than 2X (assuming you’re not going to zoom or move the graphic, of course)? Isn’t that 2X also “wasted” on the sequence?

[Kevin Monahan]

Tom,
I always assume that you’re gonna do a move. Otherwise, yes, make it the native frame size.

Kevin Monahan
Take My FCP Master’s Seminar!
fcpworld.com